Illinois Career Colleges and Universities

Career and Technical Training in Illinois

Illinois: Achieving career education and career goals in the Land of Lincoln. Browse Illinois career colleges and universities. Each program from a Illinois Career College, a post-secondary for-profit institution, offers an education with an in-demand career field. The programs are designed to get you work-ready, equipped with the practical knowledge, and the competence needed to obtain a competitive career in Illinois.

At career colleges in Illinois, you typically don't take general education classes in core subjects such as English and math. Instead, you focus on career-related courses.

Illinois Career-Focused Degree Programs

Illinois has something for everyone from history and recreation to arts and culture.

Illinois: Achieving education and career goals in the Land of Lincoln

Illinois is strategically located between Lake Michigan and the ""breadbasket"" states of the Midwest. Itself a major producer of agricultural products including corn, soybeans and hogs, Illinois is also an industrial and transport center. Illinois industries produce products including transportation equipment, agricultural goods, computer equipment and chemicals.

The Chicago district produces steel, iron, and meat products. The district's grain exchange and railroads provide transport from the port of Chicago to markets throughout the United States. Chicago is also a business and cultural hub offering residents and visitors an array of shopping, arts and entertainment venues. Chicago is the Midwest's financial and economic center.

Illinois colleges and universities offer online and campus-based degree and certificate programs, while trade schools and career colleges provide students with certificate and degree programs for a variety of trades and vocations.

Illinois career colleges and trade schools: Researching your options

Whether you plan to farm a thousand acres or design computer equipment, you can find the career training you need at Illinois trade schools, colleges and universities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the average annual salary for all occupations in Illinois was $46,450 as of May 2010.

Here is a cross-section of six Illinois employment sectors, average annual salaries, suggested college and trade school programs associated with each.

Business and financial operations occupations: 313,360 jobs with an average annual salary of $67,530. Degree and certificate programs in office administration, business and finance can be obtained from schools like Argosy University, DeVry University and Keller University.

Health care practitioners and technical occupations: 320,770 jobs with an average annual salary of $70,440. Tech Skills provides training for medical assisting and health care management, while the Illinois School of Health Careers and Robert Morris University offer nursing programs. Everest College and First Institute confers degrees in dental assisting and other allied health care careers.

Education, training and library: 405,940 jobs with an average annual salary of $56,290. Illinois colleges and universities with degrees in teaching, educational leadership and special education are a good fit for this profession. Argosy and Keller Universities provide Educational Administration and teaching degrees. Argosy and DeVry universities and Rasmussen College allow students to pursue programs in special education.

Computer and mathematics related occupations: 127,260 jobs with an average annual salary of $75,130. Turn your passion for computers into a career as an operations analyst or systems designer. Illinois career education schools including DeVry, ITT Tech and Keller University grant degrees in IT management. You can also earn a degree in systems analysis at Tech Skills campuses throughout Illinois.

Production occupations: 413,970 jobs with an average annual salary of $34,660. Use a degree in industrial engineering or management to build a career in industry. Illinois colleges and universities confer degrees in engineering and business administration. CleanEdison offers programs in green engineering, while DeVry and ITT Tech award degrees in general engineering.

Transport and material moving occupations: 433,260 jobs with an average salary of $33,670. If the open road beckons, Joliet Junior College can prepare you for driving big rigs.

Federal financial aid programs are typically available for qualified students attending accredited schools. Studying online can provided convenient scheduling options for students balancing work, family and career education. Discussing your career plans and educational needs with admissions counselors can help determine which type of learning style, degree or professional certification best meets your needs.

Author: Karen Lawson

After working for more than 20 years in mortgage lending and related fields, Karen Lawson completed her BA and MA degrees in English at the University of Nevada. She enjoys writing about higher education and career topics.